100%? That's quite the assertion. She has a shot, after seeing what she's done at Nebelhorn. But considering the depth in Japan, Miki isn't a sure bet. Mao is most likely to make the team regardless of how she skates. And Kanako and Akiko can certainly beat Miki.

It's what I believe. There is no one she can't beat in Japan. She can beat all the UR skaters and inconsistent skaters in Japan.

Clearly, Murakami had the better showing at Worlds, but Suzuki had a far better season, with a better GP, making the GPF and medaling in the GPF, beating Murakami head to heat at 4CC, and winning the WTT.

Murakami's results are marred by her continuing habit of underrotating jumps.

Thanks for posting this. The one competition you left out was Japanese Nationals, but Murakami wasn't going to be called out for URs and Suzuki skated disastrously, too. Looking at the past season's record, and considering Suzuki's world bronze from the year before, it's mind-boggling why people think Murakami is a lock over Suzuki. And if people want to say that Suzuki's World bronze was in a weak field, Murakami's 4th place finish wasn't exactly accomplished in the strongest field herself.

And if people want to say that Suzuki's World bronze was in a weak field, Murakami's 4th place finish wasn't exactly accomplished in the strongest field herself.

Murukami's 4th was behind 3 of this cycle's world champions. Nonetheless, despite her great result at World's I also don't think she is a lock for the Olympic team. But I think she is strong enough that only Akiko and Miki could bump her off, whereas the latter two could be bumped by an up-and-comer.

Now, I have been deliberately avoiding this thread as I know from past experience (re. the Russian Ladies team) that threads like this rapidly descend into slanging matches. So, I haven't read ANY of the posts so far.

And anyway, I decided a long time ago who, in an ideal world, I wanted in the team - Asada, Suzuki and Ando.

However, I have been watching the coverage of the Ladies SP at the Ondrej Nepela trophy, and have just seen the 2 girls Japan has sent to Slovakia - Haruka Imai and Yuki Nishino.

Both of them put in really beautiful performances. Haruka was even doing wonderful things in the warm-up:

Originally Posted by FSGMT

Haruka Imai landing a perfect 3S+3T!!

Unfortunately, she didn't manage to repeat it in the actual routine. But, it was still a very good performance.

As for Yuki, she had a fall not long into the routine, but otherwise it wasn't bad.

I have to be honest - I thought it was going to be Asada and Suzuki as definites for the Olympic team, with a straight fight between Murakami and Ando for the third spot. I never even took the younger girls as serious contenders. (Sorry, but, based on last season, I still feel Miyahara and Sakamoto are not ready yet).

But, if Imai can polish off her routines by the time Japanese Nationals come along, she could become a dark horse.

Things have suddenly got a lot more complicated than I initially thought!

Oh, I wouldn't want to be the ones making the final decision on who goes to Sochi!

Well, at least Suzuki has BEEN to an Olympics. Ando totally screwed Yukari Nakano of a place in 2006, or I guess JSF did since Miki had all her endorsers applying pressure. Money talks. I'm not sure what Miki has in terms of support this time, but I hope if she's not good she isn't just sent as a throwaway third team member.

Well, at least Suzuki has BEEN to an Olympics. Ando totally screwed Yukari Nakano of a place in 2006, or I guess JSF did since Miki had all her endorsers applying pressure. Money talks. I'm not sure what Miki has in terms of support this time, but I hope if she's not good she isn't just sent as a throwaway third team member.

There's no way this will happen. She's been off the radar and she's not like an Asada where if she performs poorly they'll still send her because "The Olympics won't be the same".

Miki will have to fight for her spot and even if she goes clean (unless she has superb content), she isn't guaranteed to get it over Murakami/Suzuki.

Based on what Miki did at Nebelhorn, I don't think she's up to the level she'll need to be to get by Akiko or Kanako right now. Kanako isn't a beginning of the season skater but she always gets stronger as the season goes on. Akiko skates strongly at the beginning of the season and sometimes fizzles out late so she'll have to pace herself. Judging from the practice video I saw of her from Finlandia, she's looking strong. Most of her jumps were easy and secure. Akiko's challenge will be maintaining that through the 2nd half of the season.

Miki didn't look very good at Nebelhorn. What she did was good considering it was her first competition back but judging her next to everyone else in the field, she wouldn't crack top 10 at worlds with that. She was slow and labored, her spins were bad, she's developed a more pronounced leg wrap and her programs are very generic/uninteresting.

I will never count Miki out b/c she knows how to compete but I'm not sure if her best will be better than Akiko and Kanako's best. Miki has no GP invites which puts her at a disadvantage in terms of building her reputation back up. Yes she's a 2-time world champ and that will help her but not much, especially if she doesn't improve her skating.

For now Akiko and Kanako are safe IMO. We'll have to see what the landscape looks like in the next few months...

^^^The most accurate and non-biased assessment I have read in any of these "who should be on such-and-such team" thread!

Well written, kwanatic!!!

Miki's performance was good at the Nebelhorn considering how long she's been away. But, as you have pointed out, as it is, it is not good enough for the high placing that somebody of her talent deserves at the Olympics.

She will improve with more practice. But, I'm just concerned about her lack of competition practice between now and the new year.

She's not doing GP's, so will she be able to get the chance to compete at other Senior B's before then?

If she is entered in some, she might just improve enough to get on the Olympic team. If she isn't entered in any, I think she'll have trouble getting in the team.

Incidentally, Haruka Imai just put in another beautiful performance in the FS at the Ondrej Nepela there now.

Thing is though, Miki's level at Nebelhorn is comparable to or even better than what we've seen from US ladies who are considered to be contenders for the US Olympic team at this point in the season. The US ladies field at this point is pretty comparable to that in Japan, though with even more ladies in contention for the 3rd spot. Gold scored in the mid 160s at SLC, Zawadzki only like 150, Gao 153 at Nepala. So, if those are the kinds of scores American lady Olympic contenders are putting up at this point in the season, it sort of puts things into perspective, if they are going to make the team, those marks are going to need to be quite a bit higher, but it's expected that they will be quite a bit higher come Nationals and even the GP. If Miki's at a 162 now and needs to get to a 180-190 score to make the Olympic team, yeah that's a big ask, but the American ladies contenders don't seem to be in any better form at this point, and most of them even worse, and most fully expect that by Nationals that 20 to 40 point jump will be made. If they can do it, why can't Miki?

I mean, I get Miki just had a baby, but if she got all her triples back in 5 months time, you would think that she could get better spins and footwork and add in more combinations in the 3 months until Nationals. I mean, Miki has the experience, and she's gotten level 3s and 4s on her spins and footwork in the past so I feel like there's a chance she could get them back in time. Not saying she's likely to make the team but she definitely has a shot.

Clearly, Murakami had the better showing at Worlds, but Suzuki had a far better season, with a better GP, making the GPF and medaling in the GPF, beating Murakami head to heat at 4CC, and winning the WTT.

Murakami should have placed 1st and 3rd at her Grand Prix events and had a spot in the final. She also should have placed over Suzuki at 4CC.

Not to mention that Murakami did far better at Japanese Nationals.

Akiko is great, there's still a chance she could be in the mix for an Olympic medal, but she probably peaked in 2012. Her jumps became less stable last season and I don't see them returning to the level they used to be at.

Originally Posted by chuckm

Murakami's results are marred by her continuing habit of underrotating jumps.